We decided to explore one of the islands last (un)touched waterfall. This was actually two visits combined into one story, as redundancy has its limits. Photo by Chris Bautista.
Trailhead
Met up with Analyn, Anne, Chris, Daryl, Ferlino, Jasmin, Lopaka, Sean and Tina at the parking lot that is only hospitable to church (body of collective Christians) and golfers.
H20 Tank
We swung a collective left at the water tank to remain on the muddy trail.
Pali Puka
Can you see the hole for the mountain?
Hau Trail
Ducking our way underneath the tangled thicket of hau trees.
Kalo
Passing the world’s oldest cultivated crop.
Likeke Falls
Surprisingly, we had the popular watering hole all to ourselves. Photo by Jasmin Nepomuceno.
Likeke Falls
We came back with umbrella props on our second visit.
Likeke Falls
Group photo left to right: Ferlino, myself, Analyn, Chris and Rocky.
Trail
Following the stream down hill.
Trail
The well-defined trail took us through several gullies and stream beds gouged from rain cascading off the Ko’olau Mountains.
Vanity Fair?
Can it really be any easier than this?
Trail
Making our way up the stream bed that was strewn with trees and assorted boulders washed down from the mountain.
Lanihuli Bigs
The twin falls teased us with her trickling water. No gusher today. Group photo left to right: Sean, Ferlino, Lopaka, Tina, Analyn, Anne, Jasmin, myself, Chris and Daryl.
V Chute
What happened to the forecasted rain showers?
Aquarium
Pssst. Call Lopaka over here as there is a certain amphibian friend that wants to meet him.
Virgin Mary Falls
A little more trickle on our second visit. Still no gusher.
V Falls
Aspiring umbrella models posing at the waterfall. Photo by Chris Bautista.
V Chute
Ferlino getting up close and personal.
Exit
Time to leave as a few scattered rocks dropped in on our party. Photo by Chris Bautista.
Trail
Going down the timber mountain log ride. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.
Windward view
Clear and sunny. Good conditions for a ridge hike, not so much for a waterfall hike.
Hau jungle
Back down in the hau jungle gym.
Uluhe trail
Group photo against the vegetation blocked backdrop of the Ko’olau Mountains.
Trail
We decided to see where this trail would take us. It has to come out somewhere, right?
Junk yard
Somebody ran their car into the ground.
Bridge crossing
Some had a high center of gravity …
Underpass
… others had a low center of gravity.
H3
Passing the most expensive interstate highway built, at a cost of $80 million per mile. I’m sure the rail will surpass that cost by leaps and bounds.
Fence line
We couldn’t find the gate.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Who will make it into the 2019 Hiking Models calendar? I should have showed more skin.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Group photo with Kalihi Saddle in the background. Mahalo to Jasmin for picking us up.
Fiddleneck galore
Anne and Analyn plundering, I mean harvesting the tender tips of the Warabi or Pako ferns.
Kitchen
From the farm to the table. Just add kamaboko, tomato, onions, fish sauce and a vegan appetite.
Water tank
Chris found a comfortable seat amidst the tree branch tangled top.
Water tank
Can you see me now? Photo by Rocky Abad.
Water tank
Coming up. Photo by Chris Bautista.
Water tank
Going down.
Ko’olau Golf Course
Free range bacon …
Ko’olau Golf Course
… fresh eggs …
Ko’olau Golf Course
… and a tree loving hen. We had all the fixings of a post hike meal! Fun little hike with friends to see a flowing and trickling waterfalls tucked away at the base of the mountains.
Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Kenji! Looking for any help you can give on trying to find Lanihuli bigs. Literally just hiked the entire Likeke trail from the falls to H3. Never saw the VF tree or any other indications. Climbed one chute and it was the wrong one. Any help? GPS tracks or anything? I can keep it to myself ????
Aloha Brandon
Sorry I was on my KST hike. I will send over the direction shortly. It only flows during heavy rain, similar to Valley of the Temple Falls.
Mahalo
Hi Kenji, looking for some help getting to this chute. And would you recommend starting by the H3 or from likeke? Should’ve done this hike today with all this rain!
Thank you!
Aloha Derek,
I sent you the tracks. Suggest you start at Likeke Falls, have to go only during a period of heavy rains but stay safe and have fun. Hope it helps.
Mahalo
Hi kenji! We are so excited to have finally found your page for this hike. We have been searching for the virn mary falls trail for a while! We would love to have some great instructions on finding it please. Also did you stage cars & how long did it take you? THANK YOU!!!!
Aloha Cassandra,
I will email you the tracks and generally you start and end at the same place, so no need to stage cars. Of course, the falls will only present itself during periods of torrential rain. It’s a relatively short hike, couple hours at the most. Stay safe and have fun.
Mahalo
Aloha Kenji, I have been trying to search for this hike. Any help in finding it is greatly appreciated. Mahalo!
Aloha Justin,
I will try and email the info later. Hope it helps.
Mahalo
Aloha! We tried to find this falls today and we were close but got lost due to fallen trees and lack of trail markers. Any help would be awesome with all this rain we just had! Mahalo!
Aloha Ashley,
Sorry I found out as well that the terrain has changed due to blowdowns which makes finding the falls more difficult. Sorry can’t be more helpful.
Mahalo
Mahalo! Would you be able to send me the GPS tracks anyhow? I would appreciate it! Mahalo!
Okay, will try to send it later today.
I heard friends say that the trail to Likeke Falls was buried by the landslide. Have you had any luck hiking back here since then? Has anyone blazed a new trail?
Aloha Sunshine,
Nope as waterfalls are not really my thing, so I haven’t been back there in awhile. Not sure if others made a new trail, most likely due to its popularity.
Mahalo
Hi Kenji! Would very much appreciate if you would email me the tracks for V falls. Thank you!
Aloha Tama,
I sent you the tracks. Hope it helps.
Mahalo